Blade and cover blind shutter for cameras



March 31, 1953 F. PERLIN BLADE AND COVER BLIND SHUTTER FOR CAMERAS 9Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11, 1948 March 31, 1953 F. PERLIN 2,633,065

BLADE AND COVER BLIND SHUTTER FOR CAMERAS Filed Dec. 11. 1948 9Sheets-Sheet 2 March 31, 1953 F. PERLIN 2,633,065

BLADE AND COVER BLIND SHUTTER FOR CAMERAS Filed Dec. 11, 1948 9Sheets-Sheet s March 31, 1953 F. PERLIN 2,633,065

BLADE AND COVER BLIND SHUTTER FOR CAMERAS Filed Dec. 11, 1948 9Sheets-Sheet 4 Eawadw .FPFU FL P/m March 31, 1953 F. PERLIN 2,633,065

BLADE AND COVER BLIND SHUTTER FOR CAMERAS Filed Dec. 11, 1948 9Sheets-Sheet 5 Sande/Wow F2190 PEP/m March 31, 1953 F. PERLIN 2,633,065

BLADE ANp COVER BLIND SHUTTER FOR CAMERAS I Filed D80. 11, 1948 9Sheets-Sheet 6 March 31, 1953 F. PERLIN 2,633,065

BLADE AND COVER BLIND SHUTTER FOR CAMERAS Filed Dec. 11, 1948 9Sheets-Sheet '7 March 31 1953 F. PERLIN 2,633,065

' BLADE Amp COVER BLIND SHUTTER FOR'CAMERAS Filed Dec. 11, 194 9Sheets-Sheet s TI us A! 6 I i f I17 I mm: 4 3 I iwggfl Il II 1 F l in" 1i SW Q I U TEN F5 Ferlm n9 wm y ML March 31, 1953 F. PERLIN 2,633,065

BLADE AND COVER BLIND SHUTTER FOR CAMERAS Filed Dec. 11, 1948 9Sheets-Sheet 9 j ui'c 53.

ESMUeMM F11 0 PEP/m Patented Mar. 31, 1953 BLADE AND COVER BLIND SHUTTERFOR CAMERAS Fred Perlin, Edgerton, Wis., assignor to Perlin DevelopmentCorporation, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application December 11, 1948, Serial No. 64,773

3 Claims.

This invention relates to cameras and more particularly to miniaturecameras, and is a continuation in part of the copending application,Serial No. 788,418, filed November 28, 1947, now Patent No. 2,521,743,issued September 12, 1950.

As in the said copending application the present invention provides acamera which is simple to use and, despite its small size, is capable oftaking good clear pictures.

An important object of this invention is to provide a shutter mechanismespecially adapted for use in miniature cameras and by whichpredetermined timing is automatically achieved in a manner precludingdeviation from the established timing.

The camera of this invention is characterized by the fact that the filmis carried in a small removable cartridge or magazine rotatably receivedin a socket in the body of the camera. Step-bystep rotation of thecartridge successively presents different areas of the film forexposure, and a spring detent serves to define the successive positionsof rotation of the cartridge. If the cartridge is properly indexed aftereach picture is taken double exposures are avoided. To assure suchproper indexing is another object of this invention; and to this end theinvention provides a novel interconnection between the shutter actuatingmeans and the spring detent by which the shutter actuating means isrendered inoperative once it has been operated and until the cartridgeis indexed to its next picture taking position.

More specifically it is an object of this-invention to provide a latchoperable to hold the shutter tripping trigger down after each exposureand until the film carrying cartridge has been indexed to move the filminto position for the next expo sure during which operation the latch isdisengaged by a pin reacting between the latch and the spring detentwhich holds the cartridge in its successive indexed positions.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate several complete examples of thephysical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the bestmodes so far devised for the practical application of the principlesthereof, and in which:

2 Figure 1 is a perspective view at approximatel full scale illustratingthe camera of this invention in its position of use; Figure 2 is aperspective view of the camer with its main elements separated and drawnto a scale larger than full size;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the shutter mechanism employed inthe camera shown in Figure 1, with the parts thereof separated and intheir proper order of assembly;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the inside of the front cap orcover of the camera detached from the camera body and with parts thereofbroken away and in section to illustrate structural details;

Figure 5 is a front view of the camera with its front cap or coverremoved and illustrating the shutter mechanism of Figure 3 with theshutter in its normal closed position;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but omitting the illustration ofthe camera body per se showing the shutter trigger depressedsufficiently to bring one of the elements of the shutter into itsposition uncovering the light entry aperture but leaving the otherelement of the shutter in its position closing the aperture;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the parts in thepositions they occupy the very next instant as a result of the finalsmall travel of the shutter trigger;

Figures 8 and 9 are detail sectional views taken on the plane of theline 38 in Figure 7 and i1- lustrating the manner in which a springdetent or latch mechanism coacts with the film cartridge to precludedouble exposure by holding the shutter trigger in its depressed positionuntil thefilm cartridge has been indexed to its next position;

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view through Figure 6 on the plane ofthe line io-l ii;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view through the entire camerataken on the median plane thereof;

Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view through Figure 11 on theplane of the line l2- i2 but showing the film cartridge removed;

Figure 13 is a rear view of the camera illustrating particularly themanner in which the film cartridge is held assembled with the camera;

Figure 14 is a cross sectional view through Figure 11 on the plane ofthe line M-l';

Figure 15 is a front view of the camera body with its cap or coverremoved and illustrating a modified form of shutter which isdistinguished from that illustrated in the views already describedprincipally in that it has but a single rotating disc whereas theshutter mechanism of the previously described views uses twosuperimposed discs;

Figures 16, 17 and 18 are views similar to Figure but showing only theshutter mechanism and illustrating the same in its different positionsduring actuation thereof; A I

Figure 19 is a perspective View illustrating the main elements of stillanother type of shutter mechanism which may be used in this camera andshowing the various parts thereof-sepa-rated'ian'd in their proper orderof assembly;

Figure 20 is a front plan view of theshutter mechanism shown in Figure19 withthe shutter in its normal position;

Figure 21 is a detail sectional view through Figure 20 on the plane ofthe line 2'|-'-2I;

Figure 22 is a view similar to Figure- 20mm showing the parts of theshutter mechanism in the positions they occupy just before the shuttertrips;

'form of shutter mechanism;

Figures 27 to 31, inclusive are front plan views of theshutterinechanisin shown in Figure 26 r 'in di'fierentpo'sitions toillustrate the operation thereof Figure -32 is afrontview of a camera ofstill .Idi'fierent configuration with the front cap or cover removed andshowing another and greatly simplifiedformof shutter mechanism Figures33 and 34 are views similar'to Figure32 showing the shutter mechanism indifferent positions; and

Figure is a side view of the'camera shown in Figure 32 with a partthereof broken away and shown in section on the plane of the line35-'-35in Figure 33.

Referring now particularly to" the "accompany- 1mg drawings in whichlike numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views it willbe seen that the camera oflthis invention essentially comprises twomainelementanamely, the camera per se indicated generally'bythe numeral5 and a film cartridge lndicate dligenerally by the'numeral-fi.

L'Ihe camera 5 consists ore body member or housing "1 having'asocket'ti'opening to the rear thereof for the receptionof the filmcartridge 6,

and acap or'covermember 9 secured to the body "member I by screws 1 iior other'suitable fastening 'Thus, light is projected intothe socket 8'through the aligned apertures M and I5, undercontrolof the shuttermechanism which, as clearly shown in Figure 11, is located inthespacebetween the l-y through the body of the camera. and 22 are mounted atthe opposite ends of the "passage 2li,"the lens 2| being held in thebody 1 bya' ferrule 23 and the lens 22 being secured in a front wall ofthe camera body and the cap or cover between the apertures l4 and I5.

To enable focusing the camera upon a selected object a finder indicatedgenerally by the numeral i8 is provided. This finder comprises a framingaperture is in the cap or cover membere in line with a tubular passage20 extending longitudinal- Lenses 2| suitable socket in the inner faceof the cap or cover Q'directly behind the framing aperture l9.--'.ll'iough the light entry aperture opening into the socket 8 may beof a fixed size it is preferable that it'be adjustable and to this end acircular disc or plate 24 having three different sized holes 25, 25a and25b is rotatably mounted on the inner face of the cap or cover 9 by apivot pin .26 driven into the caper cover. The disc 24 'is'ot adiameterto extend across the light" path through apertures l sand .l 5 and toermit the passage of light therethrough' only when the disc is in aposition at which one of its three difierent sized holes is aligned withthe apertures I 4 and l 5. These three r positions are defined by'a balldetent 21.

Rotation is imparted to the uiseu by means or an aperture selectordial'wrotatably 'i'r'iountedbn lt'he neuter the caper cover eoaxiallwith the light entry aperture lt'ther in. while'any suitable manner ormounting the dial 28 may be "employed, in the construeuo illustrated thedial 'is' jdlirilalled on a ferrule 29 which'projects from the front ofthe cap or cover. A flanged bushing '30 secured in the ferrule 29 holdsthe dial and the lens H in place.

Notwithstanding the eccentricity of the dial 28 and the disc 24- theseparts are connected'for the tran'smissionof torque. 'The connectionconsists of a'pin 3i fixed to the discand extending through an arcuateslot32 in the'cap or cover into aradiall'y extending groove 33 in theinner face of the dial. Thus, as the dial is turned the radial elongatedgroove 33-accominodates the'approach of the pin 3i toward the axisa'bout which the dial turns.

The ball detent 21, which as noted hereinbefore serves to define thepositions of adjustment of the diso2 i, is mounted in a cavity 3 1 inthe back of the dial as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 11,

the ball being spring pressed and *engageable in one of three pockets orseats 35 in the side'of the ferrule 23.

The film cartridge '6 '-'which,"as noted hereinbefore, is readily'removably received withinthe socket 8 of the camera body comprises'acylindrical shell 36 and end walls 31 and 38'for closing the oppositeends of the shell. The 'shellfits snugly into the socket and the innercylindrical surface of the shell supports the film or photosensitiveelement F in position for exposure. A length of ordinary 16 mmQfilmcorresponding to the circumference of the inner surface of the shell oran equivalent length of film specially made for this camera may be used."Removal of the end walls 3? permits insertion of the'film which is donebysimply curling the film into a cylinder, slipping it into theshellandallowing it to expand into engagement with the inside wall ofthe shell. This loading of the cartridge,

of course, must be done in a dark room, but since the cartridge isdetachably mounted on the rear end of the shell in any suitable manneras by being telescoped thereover with a press fit. An outturned marginalflange 39 on this removable end wall coacts with a retaining finger 40on the back of the camera body to removably hold the cartridge in thesocket 8, a notch 4| in the flange 39 permitting assembly of thecartridge with the camera body.

The retaining finger 40 may be integral with the body of the camera butis conveniently extended from the ferrule 23. As shown in Figure 13, theretaining finger also serves as a pointer to coact with numbers on theend wall 31 of the cartridge to indicate the several positions ofrotation of the cartridge in which exposures are to be made. taking ofeach picture exposes only a segment of the film,

The front wall 38 of the film cartridge is depressible into the interiorof the cartridge against the force of a conical coil spring 42 confinedbetween the two end walls with its ends nested in suitable seats formedin the end walls. A rim 43 on the periphery of the disc-like end wall 38interengages with a rim 44 provided by the inturned adjacent end of theshell, to limit outward displacement of the wall 38 and also provide alight trap to effectually exclude light from the interior of thecartridge as long as the depressible disc-like end wall 38 is in itsnormal position in which it is yieldingly maintained by the spring 42.

It is to be noted that the disc-like end wall 38 is small enough topermit the same to be pushed into the shell without danger of scrapingagainst the face of the film providing, of course, that coaxiality ismaintained between the shell and the end wall. During insertion andremoval of the cartridge into and from the camera such coaxiality ismaintained by the centering or guiding engagement between thedepressible wall 38 and a cylindrical projection 45 which extends backinto the socket 8 from the front wall thereof. This projection is longenough to push the end wall 38 into the shell far enough to uncover thefilm F for exposure upon full insertion of the cartridge into the socketas shown.

A longitudinal slot 45 extends diametrically across the projection 45.This slot opens to the aperture l4 and has a light reflecting surface 46mounted therein. The surface 46 is inclined so as to bend the light raysentering the socket through the aperture l4 and project them onto an areor segment of the film or photosensitive element. The surface 46 may besimply a mirror adhered to a block 41 or other suitable support set intothe slot 45'.

The extent of the film exposed depends upo the width of the slot 45' andin the present embodiment is approximately one-eighth the circumferenceof the cartridge shell so that one length of film provides for eightpictures.

Preferably though not necessarily the block 41 upon which the reflectingsurface 46 is mounted is adjustable along the axis of the light entryaperture to vary the focal length. To this end the block 41 has slides48 riding in ways in the inner faces of the slot 45', and an adjustingscrew 49 freely rotatable but non-longitudinally movably secured in thecamera body is threaded into the block 41. Turning the screw slides theblock 41 forward and backward as will be readily apparent, access to thescrew being had through As will be explained hereinafter the.

the open rear end of the socket upon removal of the film cartridge.

The front end of the film cartridge and specifically the inturned frontend of its shell is castellated to provide a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced notches 50. These notches correspond in numberto the number of exposures to be made on a length of film (eight in thiscase) and coact with a spring detent 5| (see Figures 8 and 9) toproperly index rotation of the cartridge from one position of exposureto the next. As will appear from inspection of Figures 8 and 9 thedetent spring 5| is so constructed that rotation of the cartridge ispossible in only one direction, thus precluding double exposure as aresult of unintentional retrograde rotation of the film cartridge.

As will be hereinafter more fully described the spring detent 5| alsointerconnects the cartridge and the shutter trigger so that the triggeris automatically held down after tripping the shutter and until the filmcartridge is rotatably indexed to its next position. Thisinterconnection between the shutter mechanism and the cartridge thusprecludes double exposure as a result of repeated shutter openingwithout having first indexed the film cartridge.

Shutter mechanism of Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 7 Though the shutter mechanism l2may take various forms, it is desirable that it be so constructed as toinherently have predetermined timing which remains unaffected by changesin the position of the camera. The shutter mechanism illustrated inFigures 3, 5, 6 and 7 fully meets these objectives.

This shutter mechanism is characterized by the fact that twosuperimposed round shutter discs 52 and 53 are employed. These discs arerotatably mounted on the front wall ll of the camera body to one side ofthe light entry aperture so that the superimposed discs overlie theaperture and thus control light passage therethrough. Both discs haveholes therein adapted. to be brought into registry with the light entryaperture by rotation of the discs.

The hole in the top disc 52 is in the form of a radial slit 54 while thehole 55 in the bottom disc 53 is round and as large as the aperture l4.Obviously when the two discs are in such positions of rotation that bothholes 54 and 55 register with the light entry aperture, light passesinto the camera for a length of time depending upon the duration of suchregistry. While this timing involves such considerations as the extentof the required travel of the discs and their mass, it can be set by thetension upon a spiral hair spring 56 whichconnects the two discs and, aswill be hereinafter described, drives the top disc.

The hair spring is conveniently mounted within a hub portion 51 on thetop disc 52. The inner end of the hair spring is brazed or otherwisesuitably fixed to a hub 58 on the bottom disc 53 while the outer freeend of the spring 56 is hooked into a notch 59 in the hub 51 when theparts are assembled.

A pin 60 projecting down from the top disc 52 rides in an arcuate slot6| in the bottom disc 53 and by engagement with the end 6|a of the slotyieldingly limits relative rotation between the two discs in onedirection.

The discs are rotatably mounted upon a mounting plate 62 which in turnis adapted to be secured to the front wall II of the camera where frontwall l'l.

itnestsiintmaishallow recess 63. Screws 64 removably hold the mountingplate in position with a hole'65 in the plate registering with theaperturerl l. 'Thebottorn disc 53 is rotatably mounted uponlthe plate bythe hub 66 of a pinion Bl-which passes through'a hole 68 in the mountingplate andis driven into the hub 58 of the disc, thepinion being at theunderside of the mounting plate.

The top'disc 52 is rotatably held in position by a large-headed pin 69which passes through a-hole in the disc .52 and is freely received in"the bore of the pinion hub 66, with its end portion It) protrudingbeyond the pinion 51 and ib'ein'gidriven into a hole H in the front wallll :of the camera. .A shoulder at the junction of the pin portions 69and 10 limits the extent to which the-pin'may be'driven into the hole lland thus :assuresagainst either of the discs binding.

The pinion ii! is received within a pocket M in the front wall H whichcommunicates with one side of a slideway l3 also formed in the Theslideway '63 accommodates a shutter trigger bar '14 having a rack 15 inmesh with the pinion 6?. A leaf spring it yieldingly maintains thetrigger bar in its normal outwardly projected position defined by a stoppin 11 projecting from the wall ii into a slot 18 in the trigger bar.'Thus, depression of the bar M acts through the rack and pinion toimpart rtation to the bottom disc 53.

In the normalfree position of the parts shown in Figure 5 the hole 55and the slot 5G in the bottom and top discs respectively are both out ofregister with the light entry aperture and with each other. Upondepression of the trigger 'bar 7-4 the bottom disc 53 is turned in aclockwise direction (as viewed in Figures 5, 6 and 7) 'from the positionit occupies in Figure 5 toward the positions shown in Figures 6 and 7.While the bottom disc is being so'turned a latch l9 engaging a stop (iton the top disc 52 restrains 'the'latter against following along withthe bottom disc, and the resulting relative rotation of thetwo discsadditionally loads the hair spring 5'5.

Toward the end of the depression of the trigger bar 14 as shown inFigure '6, at which time the hole 55 is almost in exact registry withthe light entry aperture, a cam 8! projecting up from the periphery ofthe bottom disc 53 moves under the spring latch 79 to lift the same oh?the stop 80 and thus free the top disc 52 for rotation by the loadedhair spring 55. The hair spring snaps the top disc 52 around so that itsslit '54 sweeps across the hole 55 which at this instant is in registerwith the aperture l l thereshutter tripping mechanism the shutter partsare restrained against restoration to their'normal' positions until thecartridge has been indexed into its next exposure position. Thestructure by which this interlock is effected comprises a-stop lug 82extending radially from the-periphery of the bottom disc 53 andengageable under-and behind-a spring latch 83-during the final rotationof the bottom disc by depression of the trigger bar.

As best shown in Figures 8 and 9 the spring latch 83 which is riveted tothe mounting plate 62. has its inner edge portion flared outwardly as at34 to allow the stop lug 82 to pass thereunder but the free end of thelatch is so positioned as to engage the trailing end of the lug 82 asthe same rides under the latch to its position shown .in Figure '7.

It is to be noted that the latch 83 overlies registering holes 85 and85in the front wall II and the mounting plate 62, respectively. Theholes 85 and 85 are in line with the spring detent 5! which engages thecastellated inner end of the film cartridge so that a pin 8'! slidablein the holes 55 and 8E interconnects the detent 5i and the latch 83.Thus, upon deflection of the detent 5i effected by rotary indexing ofthe film cartridge, the pin 8? is moved outwardly a slight distance tolift the spring latch :83 and release the shutter parts for restoration13011711611 normal free positions.

It is, of course, understood that during restoration of the shuttermechanism the engagement of the end lila of the arcuate slot 6! with thepin til carries the top disc 52 back to its normal position to reengagethe stop -80 with the spring latch M. It will also be readily apparentthat since the release of the shutter mechanism for'restoration to itsnormal picturetalring condition depends upon the indexing of the filmcartridge to bring the film into position for the next exposure, doubleexposure as a result of repeated actuation of the shutter meohanismwithout having first indexed the film is precluded.

The latch '59 like the latch 83 is riveted to the mounting plate 632andyas will be recognized by those skilled in this 'art, the mounting ofthe entire shutter mechanism upon the plate 62 provides a sub-assemblywhich enables adjustment and testing of the shutter before it isassembled with the camera.

The shutter mechanism of Figs. 15-18 The shutter mechanism illustratedin Figures 15 to 18, inclusive, is similar to that described to theextent that it utilizes a hair spring and at least one rotary shutterdisc 88, the trigger bar 89 taking the place of the bottom disc. Thetrigger bar $9 has a hole 9% adapted to be brought into register withthe light entry aperture i i by manual depression of the bar, and thedisc 38 has a hole 9! adapted to sweep across the light entry aperture.

A hair spring 92 having its inner end'fixed to the hub of the disc 88and its outer end anchored as at 93 normally yieldingly holds the discin a position at which its hole 9| is out of register with the lightentry aperture. 'Upon depression of the the trigger bar 89 against thetension of its return spring 9d a driving lug 95 on the side of the barcollides with a pin 96 eccentrically fixed to the disc 88 toimpartcounterclockwise rotation to the disc and wind up the hair spring92.

As will be seen from a comparison of Figures l5, l6 and 17 during thisaction the hole 9! in the disc leads the hole iii] in the trigger "barto be carried past the light entry aperture M before the hole'tilishroughtinto register therewith.

As the depression of the trigger .bar :continues and its hole '90 isb-roughtintoxregister with .;the

light entry aperture the driving lug 95 moves along to a point at whichthe pin 96 clears the same which happens the instant after the positionof the parts depicted in Figure 17. With the release of the disc 88 inthis manner the hair spring 92 swings the disc around at a speeddependent upon the tension of the spring to sweep the hole 9i across thelight entry aperture and admit light into the camera for a predeterminedtime interval.

As the disc 08 approaches the completion of its spring propelled motiona bufier spring 91 protruding from the periphery of the disc strikes apin 98 on the trigger bar as shown in Figure 18 to dampen out allpossible oscillation of the disc and thus preclude accidental reopeningof the shutter.

I With the full depression of the trigger bar in the manner stated itsreturn spring 94 is fully loaded tending to restore the parts to theirnormal positions but the mechanism is held against such restoration bythe engagement of a spring latch finger 99 with an abutment on thetrigger bar provided by a notch I00. The spring latch 99 overlies thepin 81 which, as noted hereinbefore, is pushed forward by the indexingof the film cartridge and such forward motion of the pinlifts the springlatch 99 to free the shutter mechanism for restoration to its normalposition.

The shutter mechanism of Figs. 19-25 The latch mechanism shown inFigures 19 to 25, inclusive, is characterized by the fact that the twoshutter elements are both reciprocable as distinguished from thepreviously described constructions wherein at least one of them wasrotatable.

In this instance the trigger bar IOI constitutes the top shutterelement. It is guided for reciprocation across the light entry apertureand has a hole I02 adapted to be brought into registry therewith bydepression of the bar against the tension of a return spring I03.

Slidable beneath the bar IOI is a bottom shutter element I04. A pin I05extending from the element I04 into an elongated slot I06 limitsrelative movement between the two shutter elements. The bottom shutterelement I04 has a slit I01 therein which sweeps across the light entryaperture to take the picture.

A leaf spring I08 fixed to the trigger bar IN is engageable with the pinI05 to hold the two shutter elements for movement in unison duringdepression of the bar. The parts are so held by the leaf spring engagingthe pin I05 that the slit I01 leads the hole I02 and thus crosses thelight entry aperture before the hole I02 is in registry therewith.

-As the depression of the bar approaches the point at which its hole I02is in complete registry with the light entry aperture the free end ofthe leaf spring I08 rides up onto two stationary cams I09 which lift thespring ofi the pin I05. Upon such disengagement of the spring from thepin I05 a, spring III]- snaps the bottom shutter element I04 upwardly tocarry its slit I01 across the light entry aperture, it being noted thatthe spring IIO moves in the plane of the bottom shutter element I04 andthus lies beneath the leaf spring I08.

The spring projected motion of the bottom shutter element I04 is limitedby its engagement with a stop pin III fixed in the bottom of theguideway in which the trigger bar slides, the trigger bar being undercutas at II2 to accom- 10 modate the pin III and the element I04. The pinII I also serves to limit the depression of the trigger bar at the pointat which its hole I02 is in registry with the light entry aperture.

The shutter mechanism of Figs. 26-31 The shutter mechanism illustratedin Figures 26 to 31, inclusive, is somewhat comparable to that justdescribed in that the two shutter elements are connected to move inunison during depression of the trigger bar.

In this case the trigger bar H3 is yieldingly projected to its normalposition by a spring H4, at which its hole '5 is out of registry withthe light entry aperture I4. Pivotally mounted on the lower or inner endof the trigger bar is a. shutter plate II6 having a hole II1 adapted tosweep across the hole H5 and across the light entry aperture when thelatter hole is in registry therewith.

A spring II8 yieldingly holds the shutter plate H6 in its normal freeposition shown in Figure 26. Upon depression of the trigger bar a stopabutment II9 on the shutter plate collides with a fixed pin I20.Continued depression of the trigger bar thus causes the plate IIG toswing on its pivot against the tension of its spring H8. The parts areso proportioned that the hole II! in the plate crosses the hole H5 inthe trigger bar before the latter registers with the light entryaperture. Figure 28 shows the plate being so actuated.

When the depression of the trigger bar reaches the point illustrated inFigure 29 the hole II5 therein is almost completely in register with thelight entry aperture. Only a slight further depression of the triggerbar is necessary to effect this result and during this slight additionaltravel the abutment I I9 snaps past the fixed stop I20 whereupon theshutter plate is free to be swung on its pivot by its spring I I8. Suchspring propelled motion of the shutter plate sweeps its hole II1 acrossthe light entry aperture to take the picture.

Upon the upstroke of the trigger bar the other side of the abutment II9engages the pin I20 and thereby causes the plate III; to rock slightlyas the abutment H9 is carried past the pin I20.

The shutter mechanism of Figs. 32-35 front wall of the camera which inthis case is cylindrical and has its light entry aperture I4 directly onthe axis of the camera body.

A hole I22 in the disc I2I is positioned to sweep across the light entryaperture at the same time a hole I23 in the second shutter element I24passes the aperture. The element I24 is in the nature of a leverpivotally mounted as at I25 in a transverse recess I26 in the front wallof the camera. A handle I21 extends from. the lever-like element I24 toproject beyond the periphery of the camera body.

An eccentric driving connection consisting of a pin I29 on the lowerfree end of the lever-like element I24 and engaging in an opening I30 inthe disc provides means for rotating the disc I2I as the lever-likeshutter element is swung from one position to the other, the twopositions being defined by the engagement of the opposite edges of thelever-like element with the sides of the recess I26.

11 A cam |3I on the handle portion of the shutter element I24 is engagedby a spring pressed detent I32 positioned to hold theshutter elements inone position or the other.

During operation as the handle is moved the force of the spring detentcauses an involuntary manual snapping of the handle from one side to theother and thus brings about a quick snap action as will be readilyapparent.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art thatthe novel camera and film cartridge combination of this invention isespecially adaptable to so-called miniature cameras and that thesimplicity of its construction assures ecomonical manufacture withoutsacrificing quality and ability to take good pictures.

What I claim as my invention is:

1, In a camera: a housing having alight entry aperture opening to asubstantially flat surface on. the housing; a pivot pin secured to saidhousing alongside said aperture normal to said surface; cooperatinginner and outer circular shutter discs mounted on said pin for rotarymovement relative to the housing and to one another, portions of bothdiscs extending across the light entry aperture and each disc having ahole therein registerable with the light entry aperture by rotation ofthe shutter discs on their pivot pin; a head on the outer end ofsaid'pin holding said discs closely adjacent to one another with theinner disc closely overlying said surface. on the housing; cooperatingmeans on the. shutter discs for. limiting relative rotationtherebetween; means on the housingv acting upon the inner shutter discto yieldingly maintain the same in aposition at which its hole is out ofregistry with the light entry aperture; a hub portion on. one. of saiddiscs ofiset axially away from. the other of said discs and providing a,central annular space therebetween; a spiral spring confined in thespace defined by said hub portion and. having each end connected to oneof said discs to. yieldingly bias the outer disc to one of its limits ofrotary movement relative to the. inner. disc; means on the housingconnected with the inner disc and providing for limited manual rotationthereof against the bias of said spiral spring to a position of rotationat which its hole registers with the light entry aperture; releasablelatch means on the housing engaged withthe outer shutter disc to holdthe same against rotation with theinner disc during such. manually produced rotation of the latter; and. latch release means on the inner discengageable with said atch to release the same, upon rotation of theinner disc to said position at which its hole registers with the lightentry aperture so as to free the outer disc for rapid rotation by thespiral spring whereby the hole in. the outer disc. is quickly carriedacross the light entry aperture by said spiral spring.

2.. The camera set forth. in. claim. 1 wherein the central portion ofthe outer disc is-oflset secured to the housing and having an opening.registering with the light entry aperture in the housing, and having anaperture through which the pivot pin passes; and further characterizedby the fact that said means for manually rotating the inner shutter disccomprises a pinion received in a pocket in the housing beneath themounting plate and rotatably journalled on the pivot pin, said pinionhaving a hub projecting through the aperture in the mounting plate andfixed to said inner shutter disc, a rack bar mesh-, ing with said pinionand having one end acces-,

si'ble at the exterior of the housing for manual actuation, and means onthe housing including said mounting plate constraining the rack bar toendwise reciprocatory motion relative to the housing.

FRED PERLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of. record. in tlle fileof this. patent:

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